Onzo Smart Energy Kit users cut energy consumption by 8%
Education can outweigh financial incentives in drive to reduce household energy usage Onzo Smart Energy Kit users cut energy consumption by 8%. Onzo, the world’s leading expert in energy analytics, today released a white paper detailing the results of a real consumer large scale rollout of its Smart Energy Kit. Users of the kit have reduced their overall home energy usage by 8%. Additionally, a further 5% of energy use has been shifted out of peak times, despite receiving no financial incentive to do so.
Feedback from an initial 5,000 users of the company’s award-winning energy-saving device shows they have shifted the amount of electricity they used in their home during peak hours by 5% – thanks to increased energy awareness and the ‘GridWatch’ icon on the display, which flashes to alert users when national demand for energy is high. Utilities often assume that using financial incentives to encourage their customers to turn on their appliances during off-peak hours is the only option available for them. Utility companies are often forced to turn to coal-fired power stations that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to meet the increased demand for energy consumption during peak hours.The shift in energy use during peak hours amongst Onzo’s Smart Energy Kit users suggests that education may be just as influential as financial incentives when it comes to reducing home energy consumption.Nick Hunn, CTO of Onzo said: “It is traditionally thought that consumers need financial incentives to encourage them to change their lifestyle in this way. However, the shift in energy use achieved by recognising information on the Smart Energy Kit display shows that financial incentives are not paramount – education and awareness building can be key drivers in inspiring behaviour change. “The simplicity of the GridWatch icon demonstrates how effective communication with consumers has a positive impact. This is encouraging news for utilities, whose role in helping consumers become more aware of their energy use will become increasingly pivotal in the campaign to make energy consumption more sustainable.”
Joel Hagan, Onzo’s Chief Executive added: “We have found the feedback from users of the Smart Energy Kit very encouraging. It has proved that providing real-time information about consumers’ energy usage in a straightforward way can truly be a major driver for energy reduction.”